Display-case.



A. W. GUSSNER & L. H. CARUFEL;

DISPLAY CASE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28. I914 RENEWED OCT. 24. 19M.

1,13%fi3 Patented May 11, 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR IV. GUSSNER AND LOUIS H. CARUFEL, 0F BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA.

DISPLAY-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1915.

Application filed February 28, 1914, Serial No. 821,733. Renewed October24, 1914. Serial No. 868,518.

Improvements in Display-Cases, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to display cases and has for its primary objectto provide a simple, eflicient and serviceable device of this characterfor use by grocers, druggists and other merchants in displaying anddispensing fancy candies, spices, drugs and other similar commodities.

The invention has for a more particular object to provide a display caseincluding a receiving bin provided with an upstanding flange or collaradapted to receive the neck of a glass jar and Support the same inposition, and means for regulating the quantity of material flowing fromthe jar into the bin.

The invention has for a further object to provide an opening in thefront wall in the bin or case to receive a scoop and the base wall ofthe opening as well as the bottom wall of the scoop having coengaginginclined portions when the scoop is in position within said opening toprevent outward movement of the scoop when the case or bin is arred.

The invention has for another object to provide a device of the abovecharacter which is simple and inexpensive in its construction, andprovides means whereby the merchandise may be attractively displayed.

With the above and other objects in view as will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions,combinations and arrangements of the parts that we shall hereinafterfully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawing, in which 7 Figure 1 is afront elevation showing a series of bins or display cases; Fig. 2 is asection taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on theline 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of theadjustable feed regulating plate;

dicated at 6 and the base of the bin at the forward edge of said openingis upwardly inclined as indicated at 7 It will be understood that thebins 5 are connected in a series of any desired number, three of saidbins being illustrated in the drawing. A vertical partition wall 8extends longitudinally between the upper and lower walls of the binsthroughout the length thereof and operates to deflect the materialoutwardly toward the openings 6 between the transverse partitions 8.

The top wall of the case above each of the openings 6 is provided withan upstanding circular collar or flange 9 which is preferably formedwith a bead 10 at its upper edge. A lip 11 extends downwardly from thelower edge of the collar at the front portion thereof to a point abovethe base wall of the opening 6 which receives the scoop 12. The scoop 12is of the usual form with the exception of the provision of an obliquelyinclined portion 13 in its bottom wall at the closed end of the scoopand the extension or flange 14, which engages with the front wall of thecase 5 around the edges of the openings 6 therein. When the scoop is inposition, the inclined portion 13 thereof rests upon the upwardlyinclined forward edge 7 on the base wall of the opening 6 and obviatesliability of the scoop being jarred out of said opening. The inclinedportion 7 of the case also prevents the outflow of the material throughthe opening 6.

The collar 9 on the top of the case 5 is provided with a vertical slot15 in which a finger piece 16 is freely movable. This finger piece issecured to a vertically movable feed regulating plate 17 which closelyengages the inner surface of the collar 9 and the lip 11 and is ofsubstantially semicircular form in cross section. The depending lip 11is provided at opposite points with spring clamping tongues 18 whichfrictionally engage over the vertical edges of the slidable feedregulating plates 17 and act to retain said plate in its adjustedposition.

The ar or container 19 in which the candy, nuts, or other meohandise iscontained is provided with areduced cylindrical neck 20 at each end,said neck portions 20 being open. One of these necks is externallythreaded to receive a metal closure cap 21 whereby one end of thecontainer may be closed. The other end of the container is adapted to befitted within the annular upstanding flange or collar 9 upon the case.

In the operation of the invention as above described, assuming that oneof the jars or containers is arranged in position and the scoop 12 isdisposed in the opening 6, the regulating plate 17 is properly adjustedso that approximately the desired amount of material will be containedwithin the scoop when the same is withdrawn from the opening 5. As soonas the scoop is withdrawn the material in the container par tially fillsthe opening 6, and this material is directed forwardly by the verticalpartition wall 8. When the scoop is again inserted said material isreceived therein. It will be obvious that by simply moving the plate 17upwardly, a greater amount of material is received within the scoop. Inthis manner,

it will be appreciated that the material may.

be very easily and quickly removed and at the same time is constantlydisplayed in an attractive manner by the use of the glass jar orcontainer in combination with our improved case or bin.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings, we have shown the bin provided with a. door22 which is hinged along one of its edges as at 23 imme diately abovethe scoop receiving opening 6. Thus the scoop may be withdrawn from theopening and said opening completely closed by the door so that dirt orother foreign matter will not enter through said opening upon themerchandise which is contained therein.

From the foreging description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, it is believed that the construction as well as the manner ofoperation and several advantages of our invention will be clearly andfully understood.

By means of the device, the me chandise is at all times easilyaccessibleto the proprietor and is also on constant display. It is in no mannerexposed to contamination by impurities in the atmosphere but iscompletely covered and thus maintained in a sanitary condition. Injuryto the health of the consumer is thereby obviated.

It will of course, be manifest that our invention is capable ofembodiment in various other structural forms, and we do not desire to belimited to the particular shape of the casing or the jar or containerwhich is e1nployed in connection therewith.

It will further be understood that the device is susceptible of a greatmany modifications in the form, proportion and arrangement of theseveral parts thereof and we therefore reserve the privilege ofresorting to all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodiedwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A display case provided with an opening in its front wall, the loweredge of said opening being outwardly and upwardly inclined, said casealso having an opening in its top wall to receive the open end of amerchandise container, and a scoop adapted to be inserted through saidfirst mentioned opening and having its bottom wall upwardly inclined atthe closed end of the scoop for engagement upon the inclined forwardedge of the opening in said case.

2. A display case provided with a. scoop receiving opening in its frontwall and also having an opening in its top wall, an upstanding flangesurrounding said opening, a lip projecting downwardly from the top wallof the casing, a feed regulating plate vertically adjustable upon saidflange, and means carried by said lip frictionally engaging said plateto retain the plate'in its adjusted position.

3. A display case provided with a scoop receiving opening in its frontwall and an opening in its top wall, an annular upstanding flangesurrounding said latter opening and adapted to support a container, asemicircular lip depending from said top wall, said upstanding flangebeing provided with a vertical slot, an adjustable feed regulating platehaving a finger piece movable in said slot, and resilient tongues formedon said depending lip and engaging over the vertical edges of said feedregulating plate to retain the same in its adjusted position.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afliX our signatures in the presence oftwo witnesses.

ARTHUR IV. GUSSNER. LOUIS II. CARUFEL. Vitnesses C. L. BURTON, A. J.Armor.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

